As a recent case in Holland demonstrates, ATC assistants can also be held liable. As a Mil controller for 17 years, I always accepted responsibility for my assistants actions, and rightly so!
I am sure that all controllers will acknowledge that you cannot always monitor 100% all of the time and a certain degree of trust has to be employed. It now seems that they too will find themselves in court alongside the controller, having to accept responsibility for their own actions. What degree of insurance will they have to find?
When will this madness end?
Thoughts are with you and the family Spot.